Fuel swirler with anti-rotation features

Abstract

A fuel swirler with anti-rotation features is provided. A swirler assembly may comprise a swirler, a guide plate, and a retaining ring. The swirler, the guide plate, and/or the retaining ring may comprise recessions configured to receive a retaining element. The retaining element may be configured to interface with the recessions to create an interference in the swirler assembly. The interference may at least partially resist rotation of the guide plate with respect to the swirler.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A swirler assembly defining a longitudinal axis, the swirler assembly comprising:
 a swirler having a forward swirler surface, the forward swirler surface defining a guide plate recession and an annular wall portion circumferentially surrounding the guide plate recession; 
 a guide plate coupled within the guide plate recession of the swirler and comprising a first axial void defined axially, with respect to the longitudinal axis, through a portion of the guide plate, the guide plate being circumferentially surrounded by the annular wall portion of the forward swirler surface; 
 a retaining ring coupled to the guide plate, the retaining ring comprising a second axial void being defined axially, with respect to the longitudinal axis, into the retaining ring; and 
 a retaining element defining an axial protrusion extending forward from the forward swirler surface, 
 wherein the axial protrusion is coupled within the first axial void and the second axial void, and 
 wherein the retaining element is configured to at least partially resist rotation of the guide plate with respect to the swirler. 
 
     
     
       2. The swirler assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the guide plate, the retaining ring, or the swirler are formed using investment casting. 
     
     
       3. The swirler assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the axial protrusion of the retaining element comprises an angular shape, a circular shape, or a pin shape. 
     
     
       4. A gas turbine engine comprising:
 a combustor; 
 a fuel nozzle configured to deliver fuel into the combustor; and 
 a swirler assembly defining a longitudinal axis and coupled around a distal end of the fuel nozzle, the swirler assembly comprising:
 a swirler having a forward swirler surface, the forward swirler surface defining a guide plate recession and an annular wall portion circumferentially surrounding the guide plate recession; 
 a guide plate coupled within the guide plate recession of the swirler and comprising a first axial void defined axially, with respect to the longitudinal axis, through a portion of the guide plate, the guide plate being circumferentially surrounded by the annular wall portion of the forward swirler surface; 
 a retaining ring coupled to the guide plate, the retaining ring comprising a second axial void being defined axially, with respect to the longitudinal axis, into the retaining ring; and 
 a retaining element defining an axial protrusion extending forward from the forward swirler surface, 
 wherein the axial protrusion is coupled within the first axial void and the second axial void, and 
 wherein the retaining element is configured to at least partially resist rotation of the guide plate with respect to the swirler. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The gas turbine engine of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the guide plate, the retaining ring, or the swirler are formed using investment casting. 
     
     
       6. The gas turbine engine of  claim 4 , wherein the axial protrusion of the retaining element comprises an angular shape, a circular shape, or a pin shape. 
     
     
       7. A swirler assembly, comprising:
 a swirler having a forward swirler surface axially opposite an aft swirler surface, wherein the swirler comprises a guide plate recession defining a recess on the forward swirler surface and a retaining element extending in an axial direction from the forward swirler surface; 
 a guide plate having a forward guide surface axially opposite an aft guide surface, wherein the guide plate is coupled within the guide plate recession of the swirler, and wherein the guide plate comprises a guide retaining recession defining a first void through the forward guide surface; and 
 a retaining ring having a forward retaining surface axially opposite an aft retaining surface and a retaining ring recession defining a second void through the forward retaining surface, wherein the retaining ring is coupled to the guide plate, 
 wherein the retaining element is at least partially inserted into the guide retaining recession and the retaining ring recession to create an interference in the swirler assembly that at least partially resists rotation of the guide plate with respect to the swirler. 
 
     
     
       8. The swirler assembly of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the guide plate, the retaining ring, or the swirler are formed using investment casting. 
     
     
       9. The swirler assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the guide plate comprises an aft sealing protrusion extending in an axial direction from the aft guide surface, wherein the aft sealing protrusion is configured to provide radial sealing against a radially inner swirler surface of the swirler. 
     
     
       10. The swirler assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the guide plate comprises a forward sealing protrusion extending in an axial direction from the forward guide surface, wherein the forward sealing protrusion is configured to provide radial sealing against a radially inner surface of the retaining ring.